Infinity Whiplash ($3,495)

Do you like going fast and far on glassy water? The is your ride. No brand has put more into SUP research and development over the years than this company, and it shows here. This ultralight, hollow-carbon race board is one of the best on the market for getting from points A to B as quickly as possible. The one we tested was 21 inches wide, which helped it track extremely straight in calm conditions, but required some experience to paddle (and is not necessarily suitable for rough-water or downwind paddling). We were struck by its initial instability but quickly came to trust the secondary stability from the cockpit’s dugout walls, which put our center of gravity lower to the water. It’s also available in widths up to 25.5 inches.

That subtle stability also comes from a step-tail stern, with a narrow tail outline below and wider outline up top. This design tricks the water into reacting as if the entire tail is narrower, reducing drag and improving mobility as you paddle. But step back to make turns, and the wider outline adds stability as you maneuver.

What’s more, at just 20 pounds, the Whiplash might be the lightest board on the market. It’s made in a mold and is hollow, save for frame supports that look like the skeleton of a whale. These lightweight elements came together when we tested it in smooth conditions in a protected harbor, where a single stroke delivered a powerful gliding sensation unlike any other board’s. This is a machine for pushing your personal speed limit. (259 Liters, 14″x 21″)

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Many of this year’s crop of stand-up paddleboards are specialists for specific thrills rather than the do-everything quiver killers we’ve seen in the past. Infinity, Bote, and Fanatic have established their respective niches and stuck to them, honing their products over decades. From one of the fastest flatwater race boards on the market to a versatile fishing platform, the results are the best stand-up paddleboards on the market in 2022.

Bote HD Aero 11’6″ Bug Slinger Echo ($1,049 and up)

Fish-catching platforms are what Bote does best, and its Bug Slinger is no exception. At 34 inches wide, with thick, six-inch rails, it provides a virtually unsinkable base for fly-fishing, spearfishing, tossing worms from a rod and reel, or just lazily cruising on a lake. Simply put, it’s extremely versatile. The Bug Slinger is intended for catching big fish, and deep pools and estuaries are where it shines (with its stiff, ten-inch plastic fin and two built-in side bites, testers found out the hard way that it’s not made for shallow, rocky spots). We loved the nifty paddle holder to stow your blade as you concentrate on landing fish. And it all packs down into an included backpack. If that’s not enough, you can enhance the fishing experience with add-ons like a multi-rod holder ($220) or a proprietary cooler ($235) that can double as a seat. (250 liters, 11’6″x 34″)

Fanatic Bee 7’8″ ($1,699)

The Bee is for people who like diverse thrills. This high-performance stand-up paddleboard is designed for surfing and no fewer than three foiling disciplines (SUP, windsurf, and wing). At 30.75 inches wide, it’s quite stable, but a narrow, thin tail makes it extremely maneuverable while traditional SUP surfing. It also comes with mounts for a foil, a mast, and windsurfing footstraps, so you can take advantage of any conditions. Downside: because of all those attachment points, designers had to reinforce the board with bamboo, carbon fiber, and fiberglass, making it heavier than purpose-built stand-up surfboards. Still, it’s an excellent learning platform for those who are interested in trying wing and windsurf foiling but who don’t want to spring for a dedicated foiling platform—yet. (120 liters, 7’8″x 30.75″)

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Badfish 10'6″ Flyweight ($1,199)Ěý

Inflatable SUPs have become increasingly popular over the past few years because they’re good for so many different kinds of paddling—lake, ocean, surf, whitewater—and are easy to transport, store, and use. But they’ve often lacked rigidity and thus sacrificed performance. Brands are finally addressing that issue. From more advanced materials to smarter fin placement, companies are making changes that translate to better inflatables. This year, none have done it better than Badfish. The Salida, Colorado, brand has strong river DNA, via its roots along the Arkansas River, and has long manufactured solid surf-inspired performance paddling boards. The brand hit paydirt with the Flyweight, which can truly do it all. The star is a new technology that reduces excess PVC along the drop stitching, which creates a lighter, more streamlined craft. Grandmas can easily get this svelte 30-inch board in the lake, while the younger set can use it for easy river running, racing, flatwater paddling, and more. We’d love a single fin box for a longer touring skeg (like Badfish’s new race-inspired 12'6″ iShape), but the thruster setup works for shallows and mellow surfing with the smaller fins, giving it a versatile feel. It’s a sleek, all-around ride worthy of your hard-earned coin.Ěý

SIC Maui Tao Tour Air Glide 12'6″ ($750)

SIC Maui has long been a stalwart of open-ocean SUP design, thanks to the brand’s background in downwind paddling (surfing wind swell with long boards). The Tao Tour Air Glide stays true to that origin while adding versatility. It offers top-notch downwind performance with rocker in the nose, so you can take advantage of wind bump on the lake. Meanwhile, a durable drop stitch and a system of PVC-reinforced rails and stringers lend a stiffness almost similar to a solid epoxy or polyurethane board. Still, that pronounced rocker, combined with a stable feel, 30-inch width, and plenty of tie-downs, means recreational paddlers can use it for touring, overnighting, fitness paddling, or surfing the occasional small swell. If you’re looking for a performance-oriented inflatable the whole family can still use, the Tao Tour Air Glide is it.

Red Paddle Co. 12'6″ Voyager Twin Fin ($1,649)

When it comes to stable boards for touring, fishing, and flatwater paddling, the Voyager is one of the best. Like all of Red Paddle’s inflatables, it comes with two rail-stiffening rods that you insert before blowing it up, which increase rigidity. This year it gets even better. Designers swapped in a new V-shaped hull that displaces water and helps the board track much better than its predecessors, lending a sleek, speedy, canoe-like feel. A new twin-fin setup, which includes two large fins, improves glide and adds another layer of stability for the uninitiated. At 32 inches, the Voyager was the widest board in our test. This translates to plenty of cargo space, with bungee tie-downs to lock in your gear. It’s a perfect rig for overnighting, lake-island hopping, or even the occasional booze cruise.

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Outerknown Apex Trunks by Kelly Slater ($145)

With 11 world titles and a lifetime in the sea, Kelly Slater knows what he wants in a pair of shorts. The Apex remains among our favorites, thanks to its trim, athletic fit. Testers appreciated how quickly the soft recycled polyester dries and how the welded seams add comfort down below. You can also fold the shorts into their back pocket, which has a hardy rubberized zipper.

Patagonia Stretch Planing ($79)

The Planing is a perfect blend of hipster and jock: it’s a whopping 19 inches long, with a fit that’s tight through the legs but still plenty stretchy. Quick-drying recycled polyester and minimal seams make for a comfortable, chafe-free all-day wear, regardless of how you like to play in the water.

Driftline Drifties ($89)

Driftline made an old concept look sleek with these boardies, which feature an outer polyester layer over a skintight neoprene lining—like trunks over wetsuit bottoms. The half-millimeter cushioning prevents inner-thigh rash when you’re gripping your surfboard. Testers also found it kept them warm on cool tropical mornings, during July dips on the East Coast, and in the late Southern-California summer.

Vans Voyage ($65)

In a word, the Voyage is sleek. The 18.5- inch-long trunks boast a snug fit through the hips and legs, which lends a slim silhouette, and the deep mesh pockets shut with subtle zippers, so they blend into the fabric. We also love the polyester, which is at once durable and soft.

O’Neill Hyperfreak Hydro ($100)

Sometimes one small design tweak makes a world of difference. O’Neill uses a svelte rubberized strap in place of a traditional string closure. This means the Hyperfreak Hydro is easier to adjust and to get on and off. Plus, no wet drawcord. A secure waistband and a zippered key pocket round out this pair of trunks.

Prana On the Rocks ($65)

If you like barely-there boardies, Prana’s latest is for you. With its 7.5-inch inseam and slim cut, the On the Rocks fits tighter than others on this list. It’s also minimalist: one back pocket with standard Velcro anchors, and a polyester-spandex material that feels like silk pajamas. Testers loved it for everything from boogie boarding to surfing to hiking.

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Here’s a poorly kept surfing secret: winter is the best time to ride waves.ĚýĚýOne reason? Large swells consistently pound coastlines in the Northeast, the Pacific Northwest, and Northern California. But winter surfing creates the ultimate conundrum: brisk offshore winds groom these waves into great conditions that just keep rolling—but they’re in sync only with what most sane folks would consider unbearable weather. Your kit is the key to enjoying this bounty. If you find the right mix of gear that’s thick enough to keep the chill out but also gives you freedom of movement, you’ve hit the sweet spot to score all winter long.

Isurus Ti Evade 4.3 Hooded Chest Zip Winter Wetsuit ($600)

Developed withĚýthe frigid waters of the company’sĚýNorthernĚýCaliforniaĚýbirthplace in mind, Isurus wetsuits have serious cold-weather chops. But the design makes them stand out: the company has borrowed heavily from triathlon and swimming, utilizing compression technology so the suits form-fit to the body to support your muscles and thus help you surf longer and more comfortably. Then there’s the warmth. The Ti Evade features 100 percent premium Japanese rubber lined with titanium, which reflects your body heat back to you, and a cozy fleece next to your skin also helps keep your core toasty. Having used several Isurus suits over the years, we can attest to their durability. They’re expensive but well worth the coin if you frequently surf in brisk waters. Women should check out the for a similar suit.

Patagonia R4ĚýYulex Three Finger Mitts ($79)

Fact: if your hands get cold when you’re surfing, the rest of your body will soon follow. The Three Finger Mitts solve that problem. You might think that one orphaned digit (your pointer) would get cold, but that isn’t the case, and it actually adds control for your hand, allowing you to feel the rails of your board when getting to your feet or duck diving—a sensation you often can’t get in full mittens. The 85 percent Yulex (Patagonia’s proprietary rubber, derived from hevea trees) keeps your hands extremely warm, while a heavy-duty wrist gasket seals out water. We put these through the wringer for months, both surfing and kiting, and noticed little wear. Take care of these and they’ll live in your kit for years.

Patagonia R5 YulexĚýRound Toe Booties ($95)

These booties are 85 percent Yulex like the Three Finger Mitts, but the ultra-warm thermal microgrid polyester-spedexĚýlining—which warms the water trapped in there—makes them stand out from the competition. That interior will have you ready for a post-session beach fire and beer despite the season. They’re minimalist but durable, and ours have survived countless walks across sharp rocks and trail jaunts for water access, thanks to the diamond-grip rubber sole.

RinseKit Pod Shower ($116)Ěýand Pressure Booster PumpĚý($40)

When you’re dealing with cold weather, hot water is key for an after-surf rinse. RinseKit’s new Pod attaches to a hose for filling and pressurizing like the original, but it’s also compatible with an optional aftermarket pump that can replace the drain cap. It allows you to rebuild the pressure later (optimal pressure sans pump lasted about three minutes). Before you paddle out, fill the Pod with hot water, seal it, and you have a toasty shower at the end of your session a few hours later. Even with the pump, it’s difficult to empty all the water, but it works well when full, giving you or your gearĚýa warm rinse.

Ěý

Rip Curl Departed Anti Series Fleece ($90)

Hoodies work anywhere, but there’s nothing like a cozy, reliable one for a surf check. Rip Curl’s Departed Anti Series Fleece features a super-warm fleece lining, a DWR coating, and a new full zip and high collar that almost make this a jacket on its own. But it’s also light enough to be a midlayer when skiing or riding if you feel like crossing over.

POC Men’s Liner JacketĚý($200)

Cold offshore winds are the norm when you’re searching for off-season waves, and a solid puffy makes the quest a lot more bearable. POC’s Liner is just the jacket: with its lightweight ripstop nylon outer and tightly woven taffeta lining, it’s formfitting but ready to move with you—ideal while getting your gear in order for a session. A well-placed zip pocket in the chest is perfect for fin and car keys, and the hood fits tightly over your noggin for guaranteed warmth, thanks to synthetic insulation that keeps you warm even if you get wet.

Slowtide Digs Changing Poncho ($70)

Slowtide has nailed the towel game and the company’s Digs poncho is the tool you want for changing in parking lots or next to highways. Simply throw the beast on and get busy underneath—no worries about your towel falling off. It’s made from 100 percent terry cotton, which is plush and feels like a warm blanket. Use it to dry off like a normal towel, then simply hang it up in the laundry room.

OluKai Kipuka Hulu Slippers ($120)

Morning surf checks are all about comfort: cup of coffee in hand, robe (or poncho) over the shoulders, and slippers on the toes as you drive from one break to another deciding where to paddle out. OluKai created the Kipuka Hulu with just these chilly dawn patrols in mind. The shearling lining makes these things super cozy and, being slippers, they’re easy to get on and off. With a rubber sole you can walk down a dirt trail, and the leather upper is plenty durable. Whether you’re searching for waves or letting the dog out, they’re the antidote to cold piggies.

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We spend a lot of time testing the newest gear every year, but often know very little about the people behind it. So, we sent a handful of our writersĚýout to talk to them. Joe Carberry spoke with Ryan Lovelance, the designer behind our tester’s favorite surfboard of 2020: the Trimcraft Burner. Trimcraft is a collective. Four legendary shapers (Lovelace, Gerry Lopez, Rich Pavel, and Davey Smith) design the boards and a team of young shapers make them. Here’s what Lovelace had to say about his philosophy on business, design, and hand shaping.

Just Do You

Most shapers of my generation have gone the route of using machines. I’ve always loved hand-­shaping—the doors it opened, the things it taught me in terms of focus and discipline.

Pick Your Posse

is basically four ­design­ers. Each of us have designs in the lineup. We’re friends. It’s a group of passionate hand-shapers. I call it a handshake brand.

Support Up-and-Comers

We’re a good venue for our younger shapers to get their names out. We hope to accelerate their careers. I ­wanted to make a brand that when I was 21, I would have been like, “Holy shit, I want to shape for them while I build my business.” They do the shaping, and Trimcraft takes care of the business side.

Know Your Audience

şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř California, the aver­age surfer is more about maxi­mizing enjoyment in the water. The surf conditions are more varied, there are fewer people form the contest scene. They weren’t raised to smash the lip every other second.

Make It Fun

In the past ten years, surfingĚýhas started to emphasize fun over performance. Brands that tailor to that seem to be doing well, and the larger companies are taking notice. It’s pretty hard for some of us to have fun on a chippy shortboard all the time.

Check out Trimcraft’s Burner surfboard.

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I’m pretty sure we’re going in circles. Visibility is 40 feet, and a thick gray mist hovers over the Pacific Ocean as our paddleboards part the eerie fog. We’re somewhere between the rugged, mountainous foothills of the Mexican mainland and Islas de Todos Santos, a desolate pair of islands eight miles off northern Baja’s shore. “That’s the same point we just paddled by,” says Jack Bark.Ěý

We thought this would be easy: the day before, Bark, Dave Boehne, and I drove 170 miles from Dana Point, California, to La Bufadora, Mexico, loaded our paddleboards with everything we could carry—shortboards for surfing, sleeping bags, tents, food—and headed out across the bay to Todos Santos for a long weekend of summer swell. Bark is on a traditional prone paddleboard, hand-paddled from the knees or while lying flat; Boehne and I are on SUPs. Why come all this way? Because while lifelong surfers like Bark, 21, and Boehne, 39, still paddle out into crowded lineups near their homes in the Los Angeles area, the sport’s population problem instills in them a common ethos: the search for emptiness.Ěý

Todos Santos (the islands, not the resort town farther south) is virtually deserted, even though it has a storied surfing history. The southern landmass is surrounded by nameless waves, but the northern island made Todos Santos famous. That’s where you’ll find Killers, a big-wave break that remains a proving ground as brave surfers charge 40-foot behemoths each winter.

While Killers inspires awe, the islands’ true geological gift to surfers is exposure. The points of land face the Pacific’s swells unencumbered year-round. In winter, massive waves pound in from the west and northwest; in summer, little-known breaks that are much less dangerous but just as high quality go off during Southern Hemisphere swells.Ěý

But first we have to get to them. Five hours in, we’re still on our boards in open water with no clue where we are.Ěý

“Somebody’s gotta take charge,” yells Boehne, his usually calm demeanor broken slightly by the frustration of paddling blindly in the fog. Bark, who has blond hair and the toned physique of a distance runner, looks at me in disappointment: “Does anyone even have a map?”Ěý

We don’t have a map. Or a compass. Or even a GPS. The navigation system was left in the van during the hustle to rig our boards that morning, amid the haze of a hangover—we’d got a little too wrapped up the night before at the local tequileria, celebrating our arrival. We’ve been planning the trip since last winter, when Boehne pitched it to me over beers in a crowded bar on the Pacific Coast Highway near Dana Point. He grew up visiting Todos Santos with his family, who went there to camp and ride waves. His parents, Steve and Barrie, are former world champions in tandem surfing, a largely forgotten art of lifts and poses—like figure skating on surf. They started in 1970 and used to load up their catamaran and sail everyone out to Todos Santos for days of surfing and exploring the rocky coastline.

Bark, meanwhile, grew up in Torrance, a suburb of L.A., sweeping the floors of the shaping room at the Ěýheadquarters. His dad, Joe, has produced thousands of surfboards—big-wave guns, SUPs, and prone boards—since founding the business in 1982. Steve Boehne and Joe Bark were among the first to start handcrafting SUPs, around 2005, and Joe is one of the few still shaping prone boards.

Both Jack and Dave are gifted ocean athletes, so instead of a sailboat, panga, or anything remotely convenient, we decided to haul our gear over the open ocean on paddleboards, which we could then use to explore and surf once we reached the islands.Ěý

Around 12 feet long, the hand-powered prone board is older than American surfing. Tom Blake, credited with developing California surf culture, reinvigorated the obscure Hawaiian olo board in the late 1920s, constructing his hollow version from redwood and promoting it as a lifeguarding tool. While the boards remained somewhat popular in Australia and along the East Coast, in California they were confined to a few races, like the International Paddleboard Competition (now called the), from Catalina Island to the mainland.Ěý

Then came the stand-up paddleboard’s popularity, credited to its adoption by Laird Hamilton in the early 2000s. Around 2010, prone paddling experienced a resurgence as athletes like Jamie Mitchell, who won ten straight titles, and young paddlers like Bark and Queensland’s Jordan Mercer, who’ve each won multiple Molokai races, provided the sport with new life. “Stand-up paddling’s boom has brought a lot of visibility back to prone boards,” Bark says. Many of today’s SUPs borrow traits from traditional prone designs—rail lines, displacement noses, domed decks.Ěý

Bark and Boehne have taken to the family business. When he’s not in environmental-science classes at California State University at Dominguez Hills, Bark works alongside his father to fill custom board orders and manages the brand’s social-media accounts. Boehne grew up doing pretty much everything at Infinity—from answering phones to board design to marketing. “I shape boards. Jack shapes boards,” says Boehne. “Riding our bikes over the hill at lunch to check the surf was a big part of both of our families’ business plans.”

After circling for hours, arguing over which way the swell is moving, we finally hear ocean water hitting coastline through the dense fog and paddle until we reach land. We drop our gear on the north island’s protected side and bivouac above a tiny cove. I build a small fire to make tacos while Bark and Boehne drink warm Tecates and devour tortilla chips.

With our blood sugar levels back up, we spend the next three days exploring the islands. We pick our way through the rocks on our boards, touring hidden caves tucked into pristine coves where surprised elephant seals bark loudly as we paddle by, flopping toward the water in panic. “Hold up,” says Bark. “I wanna jump out of that cave.” He points to a small nook 20 feet off the water, quickly climbs the scree-strewn slope, and launches into the deep salt water.Ěý

We comb the rocky point where Killers terminates in the winter, and thousands of seagulls try to dismember us for plodding among their nests. In the brush, we find a broken Bark board, a battered remnant of heavy winters past. “It was one of my buddies’, ” Bark says, recognizing the orange and red design. Bark’s friend surfed it here two years before, destroyed it on an exceptionally big wave and relayed the death-defying tale upon his return.Ěý

The surf we ride isn’t quite as huge—waves rarely reach seven feet—but it is everywhere. Of our three options, the break in the channel off the north point of the south island has the best shape. The wind is nil, and the water is glassy. The peak looks like it should be a left, only the left fattens out; the right reels toward the point and culminates thunderously on the inside. Bark paddles into the first wave on his shortboard and makes a nice top turn. “This is so sick,” he says, paddling back out to our lonely lineup.Ěý

Boehne is all style. His tan skin and hair work together to highlight his white smile. “This is what we’re after,” he says as the waves come in. He takes off, gets over his board, lowers his center of gravity in a compact stance, and coils up to hit the lip. But the wave dissipates, and he carves on his forehand back to the white pile, snapping off the top on the rebound. He returns to our lineup of three as Bark takes off on the next wave. “A little overhead on sets and no one around,” says Boehne. “I don’t think anyone in the world would complain about that.”ĚýĚý Ěý

Joe Carberry is the founding editor of SUP magazine and a columnist for Sports Illustrated. This is his first şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř feature.

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Despite stand-up paddling’s reputation as an easygoing pastime for soccer parents, its competitive realm is intense. Athletes compete in everything from grueling 32-mile open-ocean marathons, to full-contact races through breaking swells, to waveriding contests in far-flung locales. But for years, the sport has been missing a key ingredient: a young, breakout champion capable of appealing to armchair fans and core surfers alike. Enter 21-year-old Kai Lenny, a Maui native who has won nearly all of SUP’s marquee events and regularly drops in at big-wave breaks with surfing’s most recognizable faces.

RIDING GIANTS: As a precocious kid surfing Maui’s north shore, Lenny was mentored by icons like Laird Hamilton, Dave Kalama, and Robby Naish, who taught him everything from basic windsurfing and SUP technique to how to tow in to a 30-foot wave.

THE ARRIVAL: In the final months of 2013, Lenny put together an unprecedented string of victories, winning California’s Rainbow Sandals Battle of the Paddle, the sport’s most important event; his third Stand Up World Tour surfing title, in France; and his second Stand Up World Series racing title on Oahu. “Winning the Battle of the Paddle is my biggest accomplishment so far,” says Lenny. “Every top athlete was there.”

POSTER BOY: Among Lenny’s sponsors are GoPro, Oakley, and Red Bull. “Kai is the perfect guy to put SUP on the map,” says Pat Towersey, marketing manager at Nike surfing subsidiary Hurley, which recently inked Lenny to a multi-year endorsement deal. “He has as much fun paddling on a lake as he does paddling into Jaws.”

HEAVY HITTER: When the infamous Maui surf break Jaws hits 20 feet, Lenny is one of only a few surfers in the world who can ride it on anything from a SUP to a big-wave gun to a kiteboard. “I grew up watching my heroes, like Laird, charge these incredibly huge waves,” he says. “When I started to gain experience at Jaws, I realized how special it was.”

SECOND OPINION: “He’s competent in every discipline of the waterman lifestyle,” says big-wave legend Greg Long. “It’s true athleticism, and you can’t help but be inspired.”

UP NEXT: This summer, Lenny will try to nab the one SUP title that has eluded him—Molokai2Oahu, a 32-mile open-ocean race. Held in July, its racers paddle across one of the Hawaiian Islands’ most treacherous channels, with head-high swells and 30-knot winds. “Mentally and physically, it’s the hardest SUP race in the world,” says Lenny, who came in fourth last year. “It truly tests your spirit and will help you find out what you’re made of.”

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[A] Ski Atomic Janak: Light and fast gives way to light and fat. The Janak is perfect for opening it up in steep powder fields or resort crud. $628; [B] BOOT Scarpa Tornado: With interchangeable, flex-adjusting tongues, the Tornado is ready to tour or tackle the bumps. $629; BINDINGS Fritschi Freeride (not pictured): The gold standard of AT bindings, Fritschis are light, tough, and simple enough to repair on the go. $425; SKINS Black Diamond Ascension (not pictured): Peel ’em off and stick ’em on. Synthetic hairs grip the snow to maximize your upward efforts. $150; SAFETY Everything’s fine until it isn’t. When things go wrong, better have a [C] shovel (Black Diamond Tele Lynx Shovel, $45), a probe (Black Diamond Quickdraw Super Tour 265 Probe [not pictured], $49; ), and a [D] beacon (Ortovox S1, $649; ) to leverage your avalanche training.

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Most resorts never develop the cachet of Aspen, and many go bust. According to the National Ski Areas Association, more than 400 hills have shut down across the country in the past 30 years. But though the lifts may be gone, the cleared runs remain—untracked and there for the taking by anybody willing to hike or skin to the top. There’s even a Web site () to track them. Trespassing isn’t an issue on Forest Service land, but heed the posted signs of private property. Avalanche training is a must, since these areas are no longer patrolled or controlled, but the payoff is untracked powder stashes from coast to coast.

Berthoud Pass, Winter Park, Colorado
Splitting Denver and Winter Park along Highway 40, Berthoud Pass, which closed its lifts in 2001, is ready for your roadside powder binge. An hourlong climb puts you on Mount Russell, at just over 12,000 feet, with access to the above-tree-line bowls of Current Creek’s drainage and, to the southwest, 1,400-vertical-foot shots down the Eighties, Nineties, and Hundreds avalanche chutes to your waiting car shuttle. Only the bold should attempt the north-facing, slide-prone Mine Chutes, which claimed a life earlier this winter.
Stay: Gasthaus Eichler Hotel, Winter Park; $69-$250;
800-543-3899
Beta : Icebox Mountain Sports, Fraser; 970-726-8256

Cameron Pass, Fort Collins, Colorado
Served by a 950-vertical-foot rope tow until 1951, Cameron Pass, along Highway 14 north of Fort Collins, is no bunny hill. From the parking lot, at 10,276 feet, skin past tree line and take your pick from nearly a dozen 35-degree lines on the broad northeast-facing ridge of 11,852-foot Diamond Peak. For an extended touring trip in the Medicine Bowl Range, check out nearby Walden’s Never Summer hut system (970-723-4070).
Stay: The Sheldon House, Fort Collins; $90-$125; 877-221-1918
Beta: The Mountain Shop, Fort Collins; 970-493-5720

Echo Summit, Lake Tahoe, California
When the snow piles up off Highway 50 west of South Lake Tahoe, locals head to Echo Summit. Two lifts operated here until the mid-seventies, and backcountry tree skiing remains. From the lot at Echo Summit Sno-Park ($5), a quick climb to the top of 8,400-foot Nebelhorn gains access to a perfect yo-yo line off the northwest face. When it’s time to end the day, bail into the 2,500-foot east-facing glades of Christmas Valley and Highway 89 beyond.
Stay: Inn by the Lake, South Lake Tahoe; $100-$180;
800-877-1466
Beta: Sierra Ski and Cycle Works, South Lake Tahoe;
530-541-7505

Hitt Mountain, Cambridge, Idaho

Built in the shadows of 7,410-foot Hitt Mountain, the area was little more than a T-bar in a town better known for turkey hunting. After it closed, in 1985, the real skiing began, both on Hitt and neighboring 7,589-foot Sturgill Peak. Above tree line, descents come with views of Idaho’s Seven Devils Mountains and the Snake River’s Hells Canyon, in the desert along the Oregon-Idaho state line. Cambridge local Cyrus Wert and his buddies use a vintage Thiokol snowcat to get runs of up to 2,000 vertical feet. For you, the six-mile skin starts when your car can’t go any farther on West Pine Road—or, if you’re lucky, you can thumb a ride with Wert.
Stay: Hotel McCall, McCall; $95;
208-634-8105
Beta: Idaho Mountain Touring, Boise; 208-336-3854

Proctor and Ruud Mountains, Ketchum, Idaho

Along with Dollar Mountain, Proctor and Ruud are the remnants of Union Pacific’s original 1930s destination-ski experiment—now better known as Sun Valley. After the lift was built on Bald Mountain, in the 1940s, Proctor and Ruud were retired. Access the pow east of Dollar Mountain on Fairway Road. (Lift-line clear-cuts are still visible.) It’s 20 minutes through open, treeless terrain to Ruud’s summit (6,705 feet) and another 20 to the top of Proctor (7,798 feet), with stellar views of Baldy. Thumb your nose at the movie stars skiing groomers before dropping into 700 vertical feet of turns.
Stay: Sun Valley Inn, Sun Valley; $189-$500; 800-786-8259
Beta: Elephant’s Perch, Ketchum; 208-726-3497

Petersburg Pass, Petersburg, New York

Straddling the New York-Massachusetts state line, Petersburg Pass was a locals’ mountain, founded in 1962 by two employees of Sprague Electric. Unable to draw skiers from surrounding towns, it closed in 1980, and saw-wielding skiers took it upon themselves to keep trails clear. The skin track starts on Route 2 on the New York side, near remnants of the old lodge foundations, and zigzags to the 2,600-foot summit at the Massachusetts line. Maples and oaks form slalom gates on 600 vertical feet of classic New England tree skiing.
Stay: The Orchards Hotel, Williamstown; $175-$225;
413-458-9611
Beta: The Mountain Goat, Williamstown; 413-458-8445

Mittersill, Franconia, New Hampshire

Mittersill hugs the northern edge of Franconia Notch State Park, just northwest of 2005 overall World Cup champion Bode Miller’s home field, Cannon Mountain ski area. Created by an Austrian baron shortly after World War II, Mittersill operated until 1980, when it went under. Fuel your thermos at the Peabody or Tram lodge, then skin up Baron’s Trail (there’s no official gate, but it’s legal) to around 3,400 feet, where skier-cut glades are kept relatively clear in an otherwise dense forest. Reopening Mittersill is part of Cannon’s long-term plans, but until then, it’s a well-earned reprieve from icy East Coast runs.
Stay: The Franconia Inn, Franconia; $91-$260; 800-473-5299
Beta: Franconia Sports Shop, Franconia; 603-823-5241

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